Study shows cholesterol meds may promote cancer survival

While regular exercise and a nutritious diet can help you look and feel younger for longer, they don't necessarily guarantee that you will age gracefully. Another element in the equation is fending off diseases that can take a considerable toll on body and mind. And, few conditions have as emotional and physical an impact as various forms of cancer. With that in mind, this blog closely monitors breaking developments in this field of medical research.

The latest study to garner national media attention was published in New England Journal of Medicine on November 8. According to reports, researchers from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark have discovered that statins – a form of medication used to treat high cholesterol – could restrict the spread of cancer cells and ultimately lower cancer-based mortality rates.

The researchers, led by biochemist Sune Nielsen, reviewed the medical history of 300,000 Danish cancer patients. A small section of that group – 18,721 people in total – reportedly took statins to manage their cholesterol before being diagnosed with one of 13 different types of cancer.

In contrast to individuals who had never taken Lipitor, Zocor or some other common statin, these patients were 15 percent less likely to die from cancer, on average. This figure varied for certain forms of the disease, though. For instance, for women with cervical cancer, taking statin improved their odds of survival by 36 percent.

Though these results are promising, more research must be conducted before medical practitioners prescribe statins as a form of cancer treatment.

Given the documented rise in cancer rates around the world, the anti-aging experts at Longevity Centres of America are dedicated to protecting their patients from the potentially dangerous toxins they may be exposed to on a daily basis.